January 31, 2026 No comments
MP Roseburg Repeats New Year Initiative for Foster Children
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - As January came to a close, Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Roseburg once again brought hope and inspiration to foster children in St. Maarten by repeating her New Year initiative in partnership with Pineapple Pete Restaurant and Nowhere Special. What started as a simple idea has now become a meaningful tradition focused on encouraging children to dream big and believe in themselves. Through her foundation, The Voice of the Community Foundation, about 20 foster children were invited to a special lunch. The day was not only about food, but about showing the children through real people and real moments that their dreams are possible. The children had the chance to meet and interact with familiar local faces...
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January 31, 2026 No comments
KPSM Arrests Suspect Saturday morning for possession of a high-powered Firearm
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) confirms a serious development following information received from one of its international law enforcement partners regarding a male suspect who was allegedly attempting to sell a high-powered rifle on Sint Maarten. Based on this information, KPSM immediately initiated an investigation. As a result, early Saturday morning, January 31st, 2026, officers conducted an operation at a residence in the South Reward area. During the operation, officers encountered and seized a high-powered rifle along with ammunition. The suspect, identified by the initials J.R.G.M., was arrested on suspicion of illegal firearm possession and was transported to the police station, where he is currently being held for further investigation. The firearm and ammunition were...
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January 30, 2026 No comments
New composition of the Boards of financial supervision
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – On January 30th, 2026, the (Kingdom) Council of Ministers agreed with the appointment of Prof. Dr. Paul Hilbers as new member of the three Boards on the recommendation of the Netherlands. Mr. Hilbers succeeds Mr. Hans Hoogervorst. Earlier, on October 31st, 2025, the (Kingdom) Council of Ministers appointed Mr. Hans Hoogervorst, MA, as Chair of the three Boards of financial supervision (Cft), succeeding Ms. Lidewijde Ongering, MA, who held the position of Chair for three years. Both Paul Hilbers and Hans Hoogervorst will assume their new positions as from February 1st, 2026. After having studied Math at the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht and Econometrics and International Economy at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, Paul Hilbers pursued a career in...
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January 30, 2026 No comments
Minister of Finance Clarifies Justice Payroll Taxation and Corrects Inaccuracies
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Honorable Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, has addressed recent claims regarding the taxation of Justice personnel, clarifying that extraordinary tax is not applied to regular monthly salaries. Instead, extraordinary tax applies solely to extraordinary income components such as vacation allowance, gratifications, bonuses, and other one-time payments. The Minister’s clarification follows a recent article published by a Member of Parliament in which concerns were raised regarding the taxation of Justice personnel. While the concerns are understood, the information presented in the article was not entirely accurate and requires correction to avoid misunderstanding among employees and the wider public. Minister Gumbs explained that the issue originated from a lump-sum payment made in 2024, which temporarily placed some Justice...
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January 30, 2026 No comments
KPSM Congratulates Officer Vanessa Martina on Successful Completion of International Police Training in Abu Dhabi
SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) proudly congratulates Police Officer Vanessa Martina on the successful completion of an intensive international police training program at the Abu Dhabi Police College in the United Arab Emirates. Officer Martina was selected to participate in the IACP / UAE Ministry of Interior Police Academy Exchange Program, an international initiative organized in collaboration with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI). This prestigious program brought together police officers from various countries for advanced professional development. The training program commenced in September 2025 and spanned a period of five months, during which Officer Martina underwent comprehensive academy-style training. The curriculum included physical fitness, marching,...
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